Zaanse Schans Windmills

How to visit de Zaan Windmill Society with your City Card

You are not required to book a timeslot in advance to visit this venue with your City Card. You can book your timeslot on the spot. Please do make sure your City Card is valid at the time of your visit.

Mill Museum

In the Mill Museum, you will learn everything about mill life and mills. In addition to an overview of the mill typology, there are paintings, prints, photos, drawings, original tools and scale models. You can also see the Zaanse Windmill panorama by the painter Frans Mars. This 11 meter wide painting gives an impression of the heyday of the Zaan windmill industry. The museum regularly houses themed exhibitions.

Unique part of the Netherlands

The Zaansche Molen was founded in 1925 to preserve the mill heritage for the future, as it was rapidly disappearing in the Zaan region. At the time, a number of concerned Zaankanters feared that not a single mill would remain of the enormous number that had once stood there. The aim of the association is to preserve and manage the Zaanse industrial mills and to increase knowledge about the mills. If you want to know more about all the windmills you can visit, check the website for all the information and up to date opening hours.

Windmill de Kat (The Cat)

This windmill used to grind chalk and other raw materials for paint. It was built in 1646 in the historic village of Zaanse Schans. It burned down in 1782, but was rebuilt quickly and later restored again in the early ’60s. Opening hours:  Open daily from 9 am till 4.30 pm. Closed on the 25th of December.

Windmill the Bonte Hen (The Brightly Coloured Hen)

This mill is closed. De Bonte Hen has survived since 1693, despite being hit by lightning a number of times. Between 1973 and 1978, the mill was completely restored and re-equipped with the parts it needed to get back in working order. The mill is still producing oil. Opening hours: Closed October through March.

Windmill the Jonge Schaap (The young sheep)

Het Jonge Schaap ('the young sheep') is a replica of a wooden wind-powered sawmill in the Zaanse Schans. Originally built in 1680, it survived until 1942. This detailed replica was completed in 2007. Opening hours: Daily 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.

Windmill de Schoolmeester (The Schoolmaster)

The oldest working paper mill in the world can be found in Zaandam. This fascinating building dates back to 1692 and once produced some of the finest paper products in the world. Learn about the history and process of paper manufacturing in the Netherlands. Opening hours: From October to May open from Wednesday till Friday 10 am – 16pm; closed on Sundays and public holidays.

If you would like to know more about the windmills, check the website for all the information and opening hours.